Saatchi Yates presents the first major London exhibition by trailblazing contemporary artist Olaolu Akeredolu-Ale, better known as Slawn. Renowned for his distinct artistic style that coalesces street art with abstract expressionism, the Nigerian-born, London-based Slawn’s cultural impact stretches far beyond the art world.
Opening on Wednesday 12th September, the show will exhibit a plethora of new original works by the 23-year-old artist – including 1000 A4 canvases each priced at £1000 – exhibited as a gallery-wide explosion of colour in the St. James’s space. The exclusive A4 works will be available for purchase on a new dedicated platform, sold via a ‘drop’, on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Olaoulu Slawn was born in Lagos, Nigeria in 2000. His work is a combination of both his Yoruba heritage and contemporary youth culture. Slawn exists outside of the traditional art world and has fostered his own online following of devoted admirers. He satirises modern society, playing with tongue-in-cheek, stereotypes and caricatures. Bold, primary-coloured portraits make for striking canvases. His subjects range from a gathering of KKK members, a beauty queen infront of Stars and Stripes. In ‘My Nigerian nightmare’ a forlorn man waves a single Nigerian flag, another canvas depicts a group of suited art dealers queuing outside his studio desperate for paintings.
Playing the public obsession with luxury brands. The artist will often release his own defaced ‘Slawn’ collaborations of Rolex, Louis Vuitton, Rimowa, which sellout within minutes after being dropped via his social channels, as a wry comment of consumerism. He has also received commissions from the Brit Awards becoming the youngest artist to do so, following on from Damien Hirst, Tracey Emin, and Vivienne Westwood. Furthermore, this year he was selected to create a redesign of the English FA cup in 2024, the first ever artist to receive this commission.
His early collectors are a group of Nigerian and global rap artists, amongst them Skepta, Central Cee, Dave, A$AP Rocky and Wizkid. Slawn’s practice pays homage to artists like Duchamp, Haring and Warhol.. His spontaneous line drawings and unpredictable persona align him with figures at the forefront of both popular and ‘high’ culture. An innate ability to infuse global cultural influences into subversive and comedic artwork have established Slawn as a pivotal figure in contemporary visual culture – setting him apart from his academically-trained contemporaries, ensuring his induction into the canon of art history.
SLAWN, 12th September – 17th October Saatchi Yates
About the artist
Born in Lagos and now living in London, Slawn’s foray into cultural narrative began on home territory. In his late teens, Slawn began his journey at Wafflesncream, Nigeria’s pioneering skate shop, where he connected with friends Leo and Onyedi. Together, they delved into art creation, skateboarding, and filmmaking, culminating in the formation of Motherlan, an apparel collective. The brand quickly gained traction in Nigeria and earned recognition from Virgil Abloh, marking the start of Slawn’s relationship with the late creative visionary. Relocating to London in 2018 to pursue graphic design at Middlesex University, Slawn only picked up a paintbrush during the pandemic. As he honed his artistic craft, he began sharing his work at social gatherings and established a notable presence on social media. Slawn regales that he entered the art world via his paintings and brought chaos with him. Slawn’s accomplishments span a wide spectrum, with one of his recent contributions being Beaus Beaus Cafe, a cherished family-run eatery in East London. Slawn embodies the 21st-century Renaissance man, excelling across multiple domains.
